The editor of
The Irish Times
Kevin O’Sullivan and the newspaper’s former rugby correspondent Edmund Van Esbeck have been honoured with a civic reception in their home town of Tramore.

The reception on Friday night was hosted by the mayor of Tramore, Joe Conway, and members of the town council, and was attended by other local dignitaries as well as family members and friends of the recipients.

Mr Conway said Mr Van Esbeck, who retired as rugby correspondent some years ago but maintains a love of all sport and lives in Dublin, grew up on The Terrace in Tramore and retained many links to the town.

He is also a nephew of Eric Power, the first chairman of the town council, and the author of
Irish Rugby 1874-1999
, an official history of the sport in this country.

Mr Conway noted Mr O’Sullivan was still a regular visitor to the area, and his late father Luke O’Sullivan was well known as a talented and competitive hurler.

“These are two of ours – and we are proud of them and of what they have achieved,” Mr Conway said.